The heart’s needs are provided by the coronary arteries, which begin at the base of the aorta and spread across the surface of the heart, branching out to all areas of the heart muscle. Unfortunately, coronary heart disease is the most common cause of death in the United States. As with any health challenge, “prevention” is the key. Although genetics play a role, you can signifi cantly decrease the chance of developing heart disease by making lifestyle changes and having regular checkups with your physician. Supplementing with colostrum can also help maintain heart health.

1. Heart and Circulatory Health
IGF-1 and Growth Hormone
vs. Public Health Enemy #1
t
here are more than 650 muscles in the human body,
including your heart. Indeed, the heart is like any
other muscle, requiring blood to supply oxygen and
sure to select colostrum products that
nutrients to function. The heart’s needs are provided
✢ contain only first-milking bovine
by the coronary arteries, which begin at the base of
colostrum collected within 0 to 6
hours of the birth of the calf
the aorta and spread across the surface of the heart,
✢ are complete (none of the
branching out to all areas of the heart muscle.
components including fat have
Unfortunately, coronary heart disease is the
been removed)
most common cause of death in the United States.
As with any health challenge, “prevention” is
the key. Although genetics play a role, you can significantly decrease the chance of developing heart
disease by making lifestyle changes and having
regular checkups with your physician. Supplementing with colostrum can also help maintain heart
Resources
health.
Immune Tree colostrum formulas,
Insulin-like growth factor 1, the same IGF-1
available at health food stores
found in true six-hour colostrum, has the ability to
nationwide, are recognized for being
regenerate (or regrow) muscle tissue. This is not
among the very best and most
limited to just the muscles in our arms or legs but
nutritionally complete. For more
also includes the heart. A recent study in the Februinformation visit
ary 2012 issue of Cardiovascular Research demonwww.immunetree.com or call
toll-free 877-295-1269.
strates the cardioprotective actions of IGF-1 found
in colostrum. The researchers found that IGF-1 was
beneficial in mitigating damage induced by excessive nutrient-related stress and ischemic heart disReferences
ease (IHD), which is caused by a reduced blood
Troncoso, R., et al. Energy-preserving effects of
IGF-1 antagonize starvation-induced cardiac
supply to the heart muscle. The study also found
autophagy.
that IGF-1 could actually help reduce cell death and
Cardiovascular Research. 2012 Feb 1;93(2):320-9.
degradation in blood vessels, preventing the deteriDonath MY, Zapf J.Insulin-like growth factor-1:
an attractive option for chronic heart failure.
oration that contributes to cardiovascular disease.
Drugs Aging.1999 Cct;15(4):251-4.
A study in the October 1999 issue of Drugs &
Full list of references available at
Aging shows that IGF-1 has positive effects in pawww.freedompressonline.com.
tients already suffering from heart failure. The study
found that patients suffering
from heart failure could actually build heart muscle strength
“One of my patients had battled heart disease for 27 years.
thanks to IGF-1.
This patient had spent thousands of dollars on medications,
The body naturally protreatments and hospital visits—not to mention the stress
duces IGF-1, but with age
and trauma of it all. A year before I had contact with [the
these levels decrease, leaving
patient], he had been diagnosed with congestive heart
us susceptible to cardiovasfailure and given only a short time to live. I had him start
cular health problems. IGF-1
with 20 colostrum capsules per day, and within a short
has been shown to trigger
period of time he said he felt better. He is now working, and
according to medical doctors, his heartbeat is normal.”
muscle cell proliferation and
—Thomas E. Stone, ND, CNHP
work with growth hormone to
build lean muscle.
Not all colostrum is
created equal, so make
Colostrum helps heal the heart
30
the doctors’ prescription for healthy living
Growth hormone (GH) is also present in bovine colostrum and has been shown to work in
concert with IGF-1 in the function and repair of the
heart muscle. Receptors for both GH and IGF-1
are found on all heart muscle cells, and scientific
evidence indicates that GH may act directly on the
heart, whereas the effects of IGF-1 may be indirect
and operate through separate hormonal pathways.
Research studies have also shown that both GH
and IGF-1 have stimulatory effects on heart muscle
cells, and it is believed that this occurs through the
pathway by which the cells use calcium. It has also
been shown that administration of GH to patients
with congestive heart failure can induce a marked
improvement in heart function and clinical status.
A pure colostrum (not the defatted kind) can
help the heart patient in so many ways. It contains
growth factors that can rebuild damaged muscle tissue; it contains immune factors that can reduce the
levels of bacterial and viral pathogens in the system
(which often contribute or cause heart problems in
the first place); it contains essential fatty acids that
are so important for the maintenance of a healthy
heart; and it contains proline-rich polypeptides that
can calm the overactive immune response often
accompanying coronary damage. There are even
studies that show that the growth factors contained
in colostrum are important in lowering bad, lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol levels and increasing
good, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.
Complete first-milking bovine colostrum is an
excellent resource for both GH and IGF-1. It may be
just what you need to support your heart health. ■